Cone clutch



'pi 2, i943. H, T, KRAFT 2,36,874

GONE CLUTCH Filed Oct. 9, 1940 NVENTR Herman T1 Kraft ATTORNEYS PatentedApr. 20, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT O FFICE CONE CLUTCH Herman T. Kraft,Akron, Ohio, assignor to The General Tire & Rubber Company,' Akron,Ohio, a. corporation of Ohio Application October 9, 1940, Serial No.360,415

12 Claims. (Cl. 19,2-66) This invention relates to clutches andparticularly to cone clutches which do not require a continuedapplication of axial pressure to malntain engagement.

Cone clutches have the least number of parts and are therefore perhapsthe most inexpensive clutches to manufacture. They have, however, beengenerally considered inferior to other clutches because of the highaxial pressure which heretofore has been necessary in order to preventslippage and wear between the driven and driving members. Because ofthis fact cone clutches have been replaced to a marked degree byclutches of the disc type, etc.

It is an object of the,present invention to provide a relativelyinexpensive cone clutch which does not require axial pressure in orderto maintain engagement.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a self-lockingcone clutch which will remain engaged or disengaged without thecontinued application of axial pressure.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aself-locking cone clutch having long life which has sufhcientflexibility to compensate for slight misalignment between the driven anddriving shafts and which will remain in engaged or disengaged positionwithout continued application of axial pressure.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description of theinvention as illustrated by the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a clutch mounted on suitableshafts and embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the line 2-2 of Figure l; l

Figure 3 is a sectional view through a portion of the clutch with thefrictional elements in the engaged position and showing the manner inwhich the annular flexible ribs are deformed so as to lock thecomponents of the clutch in engagement by means of their tendency toresume their molded diameter; v

Figure 4 is a sectional view through the frictional elements of one ofthe clutch members showing the preferred shape of the annular flexibleribs in the unengaged position.

Referring more particularly to the drawing in which like parts aredesignated by like numerals of reference throughout the several views,it will be seen that the clutch comprises an outer member I, which isadapted to be carried by a suitable rotatable shaft 2, preferably thedriving shaft, an inner member 3 which is adapted to be rotatablycarried on a second shaft 4 preferably the driven shaft, which shaftsarein substantial alignment. The outer member I which is preferably thedriving member, comprises a hub portion 5, which ls bored to receive theshaft 2 and which may be keyed thereto by the key 8 so that it rotateswith the shaft 2; a conical portion 6 with an inner lconical engagingsurface I5; and a web portion 'I which is connected toor preferablyintegral with the portion 6 and which is connected to the hub portion 5by a suitable means such as the bolts 9.

The inner member which is preferably the driven member has a sleeve Iil`which is adapted to slide axially on the shaft 4 and which is keyed tothe shaft 4 by suitable means such as the key II so that it rotatestherewith. The web portion I2 which preferably has a conical portion I3of substantially the same slope as the inner engaging surface I5, isattached to the sleeve I0 by suitable means such as the bolts I6.

A plurality of annular flexible ribs I1 of rubberlike material, isdisposed between the conical portions 6 and I3 of the outer and innermembers respectively. The ribs I'I are preferably adhesively attached,for example, by rubber-tometal adhesion to the outer surface of theconical portion I3 of the inner member and collectively form africtional peripheral surface of generally frusto conical shape, theslope of which corresponds substantially to that of its cooperatingengaging surface I5. The ribs I'I preferably have a height at leastequal to their width but they should not be sufficiently high to bucklewhen they are compressed. The surface of the inflividual ribs ispreferably vfrusto conical shape with a slope greater than that of theinner conical engaging surface I5. 'I'he ribs are usually produced -froma highly reinforced rubber or synthetic rubber stock and are preferablyspaced from each other by grooves I8 of sufcient width to permitsubstantial compressive deformation of the separate ribs.

Means such as the lever 23 and the collar 20 which is disposed about andin running fit with the annular bearing rib 2I of the sleeve i0 isprovided for moving the inner members and outer members axially relativeto each other so that the frictional surfaces 25 of theribs I'l may bebrought into engaging contact with or removed from the cooperatingengaging surface I5 when desired. The collar 2li is provided with pins22 which cooperate with the yoke 2B of the lever 23 and which preventrotation of the collar 20.

AA closure member 21 may be positioned near a suitable annular channel23 within the outer member.

When the clutch is disengaged so that the 'engaging surface I5 and thefrictional surfaces are separated and the inner and outer members 3 andI respectively, are rotatable relative to each other, the flexible ribsI1 preferably lie in planes substantially perpendicular to the shafts 2and 4.

When with the clutch in the disengaged position the inner member ismoved .toward the outer member, such as by moving the lever 23 so thatthe pressure on the pins 22 forces the sleeve II)` toward the shaft 2,the trailing edges 3B of the ribs I1 make i'hst contactwith the engagingsurface I5 of the outer member. By continued movement of the lever 23 inthe same direction and by the application of further axial force onsleeve I0, the ribs I1 and particularly the trailing edge portions arefirst compressed and then as the base of the ribs is moved beyond theirplaces of contact with the engaging surface I5, they are bent out oftheir initial plane so that the whole peripheral surfaces of the ribsbears against the cooperating conical surface I5. Since rubberl 'likematerial has relatively great compressive strength and tends to retainits molded diameter, the ribs I1, after they are compressed and bent toan acute angle with the axis of the shafts,

as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, exert a substan-l tial force againstthe surface I5 in their attempt to retain their original height. Acomponent of this force is in the direction of the shaft axis and holdsthe member 3 in engagement with the member I. Becauseof this toggle-likeaction theinner and outer members tend to remain in their engagement andcontinued axial pressure need not therefore be exerted by the lever 23.

When it is desired yto disengage the members I and 3 pressure in theopposite direction is applied through the lever 23 so as to move themembers I and 3 axially away from each other. During the disengagingoperation the ribs I1 are again first compressed and'then allowedsuddenly to expand as they'are bended'beyond the vertical plane. Theeffect of this toggle-likeaci tion is to decrease wear during therelease of the clutch., p l

-Since there is no tendency for the members I and 3 to move relative toeach other, there 'is no need for axial pressure to be applied by theyoke 23 except at the moment of engagement or disengagement. Since theribs I1 are relatively flexible the clutches of the present inventionmay be used to couple shafts which are slightly out of alignment andthey are particularly desirable -for use in heavy machinery such as boatdrives,

etc.

While I have shown the ribs I1 as being attached to or as making up theouter peripheral are presented for purposes ofL explanation and'illustration and that various modifications of.

surface of the inner member 3 which is the most 'desirable arrangement,they of course can be Furthermore, it is to be understood that theparticular form of apparatus shown and described,` and the particularprocedure set forth,

said apparatus and procedure can be made without departing from myinventionas kdefined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A clutch comprising an outer member adaptedrto be carried by arotatable shaft and adapted to rotate with said shaft, said outer memberhaving an interior engaging surface of substantially frusto conicalshape', an inner rotatable member carried by a second shaftLsubstantially concentric with'the engaging surface of said outer member,saidl inner member having a peripheral surfacemwhich is generally ofconical shape, one of saidconical surfaces having a plurality ofdeformable projections of wear resisting soft rubber-like materialattached thereto which projections are adapted to bear against the otherconical surface when the inner and outer members are pressed axiallyagainst each other, means for relatively moving said inner member andsaid outer member axially toward and away from one Vanother and forexerting sufficient axial pressure` to deform said projections to a moreacute angle with respect to said shafts whereby the force exerted bysaid projections in an attempt to retain their molded height has asufficiently large `component inthe direction of the L of the members indriving engagement without continued application of axial pressure bysaid moving means.

2. A clutch comprising an outer member by rotatable shaft and` adaptedto be carried adapted to rotate with said member having a shaft, saidouter portion, said conical portion having an interior engaging surfaceof substantially frusto conical shape, an inner rotatable member carriedby a second shaft substantially concentric with the' engaging surface ofsaid outer member, said inner member `having a peripheral surface vwhichis generally conical shape with a slope corresponding tothefengaging-surface of the outer member,

one of said conical surfaces having a pluralityv of deformable annularflexible ribs of wear resisting soft rubber-like material attachedthere-K` to which ribs have greater height than `width and are adaptedto bear'against ther conical sur-i y face to which. they are unattachedwhen the shafts whereby the force exerted by the ribs in an attempt toretain their molded height has` sufficiently large component in thedirection of the shafts to retain theconical surfacesy of the members indriving engagement withoutconf tinued applicationV of axialpressure bysaid mov` ing means.

3.- A clutch comprising an outer member adapted to4 be carried by arotatable driving shaft and having a hub portion bored to receive theshaft and keyed thereto, a web portion attached to said hub portion anda conical portion with an inner engaging surface of substantiallyconical shape, an inner member substantially concentric within saidouter member and having peripheral surface of substantially v frustoVconical shape which surface is adapted to be pressed into enshafts toretain the conical surfaces' hub portion bored to receive. a shaft and aconicalportion carried by said hub pressure to deform said ribs to anacute angle` with said axis so that they may exert a holding forcecomponent parallel to the shafts, a closure member positioned near theend of said outer member having largest internal diameter and'restricting the opening of said outer member, means comprisingl anexpansible retaining ring for retaining said. closure member adjacentthe open end of said outer member, said inner member being substantiallycompletely enclosed by said outer member and said closure ring member.

4. A clutch comprising an outer member adapted to be carriedv byrotatable shaft and adapted to rotate with said shaft, said outer memberhaving a hub portion bored to `receive a shaft, a web portion carried bysaid hub portion and a conical portion with an inner conical engagingsurface carried by said web portion, an inner member having a sleevewhich is adapted to slide axially but not rotatably on a secondrotatable shaft which is substantially concentricI with the engagingsurface of said outer member,

a frame portion carried by said sleeve saidframe portion having a frustoconical peripheral surface which is adapted to be pressed into engagingcontact with the conical .inner surface of said outer member. saidperipheral surface comprising aplurality of annular, flexible anddeformable ribs of rubber-like material which ribs are adapted to bearagainst the inner conical surface of said outer member,the peripheralsurface 0f each of said ribs being frusto conical shaped with a slopegreater than said engaging surfaces of said outer member, meansformoving the inner member relative to 'said vouter member so that theribs may be brought into engagement o r disengagement with the innersurface of said outer member and may be deformed to an acute angle withsaid shaft so as to exert a component of force sufficient to retain theconical surfaces in driving engagement without the continued applicationof axial pressure by said moving means.

5. A clutch comprising an outer member adapted to be carried by arotatable driving shaft and having a hub portion bored to receive theshaft and keyed thereto, a web portion attached to said hub portion anda conical portion with an inner engaging surface of substantiallyconical shapean inner member substantially concentric within said outermember and having peripheral surface of substantially frusto conicalshape which surface is adapted to be pressed into engaging Contact withsaid conical inner surface, said inner member being keyed to rotate witha driven shaft that is substantially concentric with said outer member.one of said conical surfaces comprising a plurality of annular, flexibleand deformable ribs having a 'height a t least equal to their width andhaving frusto conical surfaces of greater slope thanv the slope of thecooperating engaging surface and separated by grooves of sufficientwidth to permit substantial compressive deformation of said ribs, meansfor moving the ,inner member axially relative to said outerV member andfor exerting sufficient axial pressure to deform said ribs to an acuteangle with said axis so that they may exert a holding force componentparallel to the shafts, a closure member positioned near the end of saidouter member having largest internal diameter and l.restricting theopening of said outer member, means comprising van expansible retainingring for retaining said `closure member adjacent the open end of saidouter member, said inner memberrbeing substantially completely enclosedby said outer member and said closure ring member.

6. A clutch comprising an outer member adapted to be carried by arotatable driving ,shaft and having an inner engaging surface ofsubstantially conical shape, an inner member substantlally concentricwithinvsaid outer member ,andhaving a peripheral surfacel ofvsubstantially frusto conical shape, which surface is adapted to bepressed into engaging contact with said conical inner surface, saidinner memberA being keyed to rotate with a driven shaft that issubstantially concentric with said outer member, one of said conicalsurfaces comprising a plurality of annular, flexible and deformable`ribs, and

means for moving the inner member axially relativeto said cuter memberandfor exerting sufli- 'cient axial pressure to deform said ribs to anvacute angle `with said axis so that they may exert a holding forcecomponent parallel to the shafts. 'v

'7. A clutch comprising an outer member adaptedto be carried by arotatable driving shaft and having an inner engaging surface of`substantially conical shape, an inner member substantially concentricwithin said outer member and having a peripheral surface ofsubstantiallyfrusto conical shape, which surface is adapted to be pressed intoengaging contact with said conical inner surface,l said innermember'being keyed to rotate with a driven shaft that is substantiallyconcentric with said outer member, one of said conlcal surfacescomprising a plurality of annular, flexible and deformable ribs andseparated by grooves of sufficient width to permit substantial icompressive deformation cf said ribs, and means ed to be carried by arotatable driving shaft tric with said outer member, one of saidconical' surfaces comprising a plurality of annular, flexible anddeformable ribs, and means for moving the inner member axially relativeto said outer member and for exerting sufficient axial pressure todeform said ribs to an acute angle with said axis so that they may exerta holding force component parallel to the shafts.

9 A clutch comprising an outer member adapted to be carried by arotatable driving shaft and having a hub kportion bored to receive theshaft and keyedthereto, a web portion attached to said hub portion and`a conical portion with an inner engaging surfacev of substantiallyconical'shape, an inner member substantially concentric within saidouter .member-fand having a peripheral surface of -substantiallyvi'rlistofconical shape, which surface is adapted to be pressed intoengaging contactiwith said conical inner surface,`said inner memberbeing keyed to rotate with a driven shaft that'isy substantiallyconcentric with said outer member, one of said'conical surfacescomprising a plurality of annular, nexible and `deformable ribs havingfrusto conical lsurfaces of greater slope than the slope ofthecooperating engaging surface,vmeans for'moving the inner member laxiallyrelative'to said outer member and for exerting suilicien-t axialpressure' to deformsaid'ribs to an acuteangle with said axis so thatthey may exert a holding forcecomponent parallel to the shafts, and aclosure mem. ber positioned near theV end of said outer-member havinglargest-internal diameteriand re stricting-the opening of said Ioutermember, means for retaining said closure member adiacent the open end ofsaid outer member, said inner member being substantially completely enclosed by said outer member and said closure ring.

10. A .clutch `comprising an louter member adapted to be carried by arotatable driving shaft `and having a hub portion bored to receivetheshaft and keyed thereto, a web portion attached to said hub portion anda conical portion with an inner engagingsurface ofsubstantially conical`shape, aninner member substantiallyconmeans for moving the inner memberaxially relal tive to said outer member and for exerting suf- `iicientaxial pressure to deform said ribs yto ran acute angle with said axis sothat they may exert va` holding force lcomponenti parallel tothe shafts.

11. Aclutch.comprising/driving member and a driven member, one of saidmembers'having an vinternal conical surface. the other of"said membersbeing provided with a peripheral surface for `engagement with saidinterior'surface and movable axially relative thereto, saidperipheralsurface having a 'series of projections of resilient material of agreater unengaged diameter than engaged diameter, the resiliency of saidresilient projections being sumcient to maintain' the said driving anddriven membersv lin power transmitting engagement and being sufficientlydeformable tov permit disengagement of the clutch units when forceisappliedto pull one from the other in an axial direction.` 'f

12. A clutch adapted to retain engagement or disengagement withoutcontinued appiicationof axialforce, comprising an outer 'frusta-conical.member carriedjby a rotatable driving shaftand adapted to rotatewithsaid shaft, an innerrotatable member carried by asecond shaft in subofannular deformable ribs of wear-resistant, n

centric Within'said` outer member and having a A.

peripheral surface of substantially frusto conical shape, which surfaceis adapted to be pressed into engaging contact withsaid conical innersurface, said innermember being-jkeyed to ro-` tate with a driven-shaftvthat :is substantially concentric with said outer'member, one' ofsaidconical surfaces comprising a 'pluralityof annular, iiexible anddeformable ribs having a height atleast equal to their fwidth and havingfrusto conical surfaces of greater slope than the slope ofthecooperating engaging surface andseparated by grooves of suilicientwidth to permit substantial compressivev deformation of said ribs,l andstantial alignment with said driving shaftlsaid i outer member having aninterior rengaging sur- Vface of generally frusto-conicai shape, saidinner member having a peripheral surface, also of gen--erallyfrusto-conical shape, carrying a plurality ing less than theunengaged diameter, meansforrelatively moving said inner member and saidouter'member toward and away from oneanother and for exerting suilicientaxial pressure to comwith respect to said shafts, whereby a component -V`of the force exerted by said ribs to' resist compress and'deform saidribs to a more acute angle pression` has a substantial axial componentin the direction ci' said outer-member andftends to retainsaid membersin engagement.

HERMANT-KRA11'1

